Co m m utato r-b ru s h



2 Sheets- Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

H. B. COLLINS. COMMUTATOR BRUSH.

Patented July 2, 1895.

wnNEssEs:

ATTORNEYS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 (N Model.)

l H. B. COLLINS. COMMUTATOR BRUSH. No. 541,919. Patented July 2, 1895.

1.3 40 V Y \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\v c //A INVENTOR WITNESSES m// BY d MQW ATTORNEYS,

UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HERMAN B. COLLlNS, OF FULTON, NEV YORK.

COMMUTATOR-BRUSH.

SPECEFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 541,919, dated July 2, 1895.

Application filed January 26, 1895. Serial No. 536,290. (No model.)

To tZ w/tom it may concern.A

Be it known that I, HERMAN B. COLLINS, of Fulton, in the county of Oswego, in the State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Oommutator Brushes, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to improvements in commutator brushes and has for its object the production of a device, which permits the commutator to move in opposite directions, is particularly silentin operation,reduces sparking to a minimum, and makes apracticaland effective contact even though the commutator is somewhat out of balance and its contact face is more or less irregular; and to this end it consists, essentially, in the general construction and arrangement of the component parts of the brush, all as hereinafter more particularly described and pointed out in the claims.

In describingr this invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which like letters and numerals indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure l is an elevation of a pair of my improved brushes and brush holders therefor, shown in section and as operatively mounted upon a supporting rocker arm. Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view, taken on line 2-2, Fig. l. Fig. 3 is an inverted plan view of the detached contact piece of my brush. Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are vertical sectional views, taken respectively in lines 4 4 and 5 5, Fig. l, and line G-6, Fig. Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view of a contact piece and a movable body section of slightly modified construction. Fig. S is an isometric View of a pair of the detached sections of a modified form of contact piece. Fig. 9 is an isometric view of a further modified form of contact piece and the adjacent end of asupporting body therefor. Fig. l0 is an elevation of a pair of brush holders shown in section as operatively mounted upon a supporting rocker arm and as provided with brushes of a still further modified construction. Fig. ll is anisometric View of the outer end ofthe movable body section of one of the brushes seen at Fig. lO. Fig. 12 is a detail sectional view, taken on line l2 l2, Fig. 10;

and Fig. 13 is an isometric view of one of the detached contact pieces and itsretaining lock seen at Fig. 10.

A is a rocker arm, and B B brush holders mounted thereon. This rocker arm may be of any desirable form, size, and construction, and is here shown as composed of a split hub a, which is mounted in the usual manner on a supporting spindle, not here illustrated, and oppositely arranged arms a c provided with spindles A A for supporting the brush holders. The split hub a is secured in operative position by a suitable clamp d2 partly shown by dotted lines provided with a screw threaded spindle as passed through separated ears a* c4 upon said hub. The brush holders B B are also of any desirable form, size, and construction, are loosely mounted on the spindles A A, and are connected by springs B B to arms B2 B2 fixed to the spindles A A. Corresponding ends of the brush holders B B are provided with sockets or aperturesb b for receiving the securing ends of the brushes and supporting suitable clamps b b for firmly holding said ends in their designed position.

Each of the brushes consists of a contact piece O, and a suitable supporting body c, which preferably consists of separate sections c c2. One side of the contact piece O is formed with a bearing face C formed concave transversely for making contact with the peripheral face of the commutator D. Shown by dotted lines at Figs. l and l0. The face C is provided with transverse ribs C2 which extend between the frontand rear edges of the face C and are preferably arranged with the front end of one rib in proximity to a transverse plane as l, Fig. 3, drawn through the rear end of the next adjacent rib. These ribs may, however be otherwise arranged, or may be entirely omitted as seen at Figs. 9 and lO.

The opposite or outer face of the contact piece C is detachably hinged to the supporting body c, and preferably to a rocking or revoluble arm c3 extending at substantially right angles with the supporting body c and movable on an axis, as 2, Fig. i, substantially parallel with the lengthwise plane of said body c. Any suitable joint may be used for connecting the contact piece C to its supporting body, but l preferably use a very simple construction of such a joint, which consists of the narthe face c4 is convex longitudinally, and the contact piece consists of separate sections as presently described, portions of the face c4 corresponding in length to the separate sections are formed convex longitudinally as clearly seen at Fig. 4.

The joint between the contact piece C and its supporting body is interposed between ipa-rallel transverse planes as 3 3, Fig. l extending substantially perpendicular-to a planeprojeoted through the projecting edges ofthe face C of said piece, and is arranged substantially parallel with the face C and the inner face C4 of the socket or groove in the contact piece, which is the face of said joint nearest the face C', is arranged somewhat nearer the longitudinal intermediate portion of the lface C',

p than the opposite projecting edges thereof.

This arrangement of the brush prevents its undue tilting', although the. `brush is free to tilt or rock a sufiicient distance to insure a positive and effective contact, even though different portions of the bearing face -of the contact piece wear at an `unequal rate.

A suitable lock E of any desirable form, size, and construction, secures the detachably I hinged contact piece C to the arm c3, butdoes not prevent the lateral movement of said contact piece upon its joint with the supporting body c; and, as clearly illustrated lat Figs. l and 2, this lock preferably consists of a spring arm having vone en-d tixedto the contact piece and its opposite end provided with a .lateral shoulder removably7 mounted in an aperture C6 in the arm c3.

The Contact piece C preferably consists of a series of sections, but may consist of a single piece, as seen at Fig. 7, and, when composed of sections, suitable springs F are passed through longitudinal apertures Clin the separated sections of the-contact pieceand theextremities of the spr-ings are suitably secured to said sections. The'springs F are preferably formed so that they naturally vassume a curved longitudinal plane .and when within the apertures C7 they tend to supplement the action of the spring presently described for y forcing the contact piece aga-inst the commutator and said springs also .operate 4to secure together the sections of the 'contact piece. The sections o c2 of the supporting body c are lsomewhat separated, and are connected by a spiral spring c5, which operates xt-oinsure a positive contact o f the contact piece with the commutator. A suitable spring bar ci" is secured to they outer side of the spring c5and imparts the desired stidness thereto for preventing lateral movement of the spring c5 without unduly restraining its yielding movement toward and away from the commutator. The outer end of the section c2 maybe of any desirable form to readily enter the aperture bin the corresponding brush holder B, and permit operative engagement of the brush holder clamp b. In practice, I prefer to use a lubricant upon the peripheral face of the com mutator, which readily passes between tho ribs of the bearing face of the contact piece without effecting its elevation and thereby impairing its metallic contact. Consequently,the peripheral face of the commutator is continually wiped and cleansed and a much better contact is afforded than would otherwise be possible.

As is well known to those skilled in the art, the usual cause of sparking .between a commutator and its brush is due to the retardation of the passage of the cur-rent of reverse direction when the coils leave t-h-e brush, and to obviate this undesirable result my contact piece .is formed with the opposite edges'of its bearing face of greater resistance than its central portion. Consequently, when .a coil leaves the edge of the portion of the brush of less resistance a current of reverse direction is partially established but no sparking takes place as the coil is still in contact with the portion of the lbrush ofgreate-r resistance and when the coil leaves the latter portion of the brush, the current of reverse direction is entirel'y established and there is no tendency to sparking. -'l`-he opposite edges of the bearing face of the contact piece C may consist of the lower edges of plates C8 suitably secured directly to the longitudinal sides of the contact piece and formed of greater resistance than the interposed portion of said contact piece. I prefer, however, to form the plates C8 of the same material as the interposed portion of the contact piece and I place non combustible insulating strips c7 between said plates and the interposed portion of the contact piece. The plates CB maybe secured in position by suitable fastening means csand the resistance of Said plates may be regulated by the conductivityof said fastening means; or the fas' tening means. cs may be suitably insulated from the plates C8 as by Washers ci and the resistance of said plates may then be regulated by conducting pins or connections 010 of suitable resistance connected to the plates C8 and to the interposed portion of the contact piece.

At Fig. Ihave shown a modification lof my invention, .in which the contact piece C10 is formed of a single part, and the bearing face Cnof the body section c is substantially flat longitudinally, and is formed of rounding cross section; and at Fig. 8 .I have shown two sections Czoof a modified construction of contact piece, each section being provided with an independently movable flat spring C21 mounted in a transverse groove C22.

At Fig. 9 I have shown a contact piece C30 IIC' substantially similar to the contact piece C10, and have illustrated one end of a slightly modified form of supporting body 030 consisting of a flat spring barhaving a downwardly bent rib e32 arranged in the longitudinal socket or groove 031 of the contact piece.

At Figs. 10, 11,12 and 13, I have shown a further modified construction of contact piece C40 provided with a removable wearing plate Ci1 having a transversely curved bearing face disposed in a substantially flat lengthwise plane, and a supporting body consisting of a fixed section om and a movable section c41jour naled upon the free end ofthe former section. It is thus apparent that the exact detail con struction and arrangement of the contact piece and its supporting body may be somewhat varied.

From the foregoing description and the accompanying drawings it is obvious that the contact piece of my brush, when in its operative position,is capable of partial revolutions on axes arranged at substantially right angles with each other and is therefore universally movable within the limits of its partial revolutions, and readily accommodates itself to the conformation of the periphery of the commutator without liability of impairment of its contact. The brush also permits the commutator to move in opposite directions and is particularly silent in operation and is durable in use. The contact piece when worn may be readily detached and replaced by a new one, and the brush is then substantially as good as new. Moreover, the use of oil between the com inutator and the brush also adds greatly to the durability of the device.

The operation of myinvention will be readily perceived upon reference to the foregoing description and the accompanying drawings, and, as previously stated, it is obvious that the exact detail construction and arrangement of its parts may be somewhat varied.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is y 1. A commutator brush comprising a supporting body, and a contact piece provided with a concave bearing face for making contact with the commutator and connected to the body by a hinge-joint interposed between parallel planes eXtending through the projecting edges of the bearing face and substantially perpendicular to a plane projected through said edges, said hinge-joint being arranged substantially parallel with the projecting edges of the bearing face, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. A commutator brush comprising a supporting body, and a contact piece provided with a concave bearing face for making contact with the commutator and connected to the' body by a hinge-joint interposed between parallel planes extending through the projecting edges ot the bearing face, and substantiallyperpendicular to a plane projected through said edges, said hinge-joint being ar ranged substantially parallel with the projecting edges of the bearing face, and the face of said joint nearest said bearing face being arranged nearerits intermediate portion than its projecting edges, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. A commutator brush comprising a snpporting body, and a contact piece provided with a concave bearing face for making contact with the commntator and connected to thebodybya hinge-joint interposed between parallel planes extending through the projecting edges of the bearing face and substantially perpendicular to a plane projected through said proj ecting edges, said hingejoint being arranged substantially parallel with the projecting edges of the bearing face, and the face ot'Y said joint nearest said bearing face being arranged nearer its intermediate portion than its projecting edges, and a lock for normally securing the contact piece to the body, substantially as and for the purpose described.

et. A commutator brush comprising a supporting body, and a contact piece hinged to the body and having a bearing face for making contact with the commutator provided with projecting ribs extending between the front and rear edges of said face, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

5. A commutator brush comprising a supporting body, a contact piece hinged to the body and having a bearing face for making contact with the commutator provided with inclined projecting' ribs formed with the front. end of one' rib in proximity to a transverse plane drawn through the rearend of the next adjacent rib, substantially as and for the purpose described.

6. A commutator brush comprising a supporting body provided with a bearing face formed rounding in cross section, and a contact piece having one side formed with a socket or groove for receiving the bearing face ofthe body audits opposite side provided with a concavelbearing face for making contact with the commutator, and a lock for normally securing the contact piece to the body, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

7. 'A commutator brush comprising a supporting body provided with a bearing face formed rounding in cross section, and a contact piece having one side formed with a socket or groove for receiving the bearing face of the body and its opposite side provided with a concave bearing face for making contact with the commutator, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

S. A. commutator brush comprising a supporting body provided with a convex bearing face formed rounding in cross section, and a contact piece having one side formed with a socket or groove for receiving the bearing face of the body and its opposite side provided with a concave bearing face for making con tact with the commutator, substantially as and for the purpose described.

IOO

IIO

9. A oomniutator brush comprising a s'upporting body, and a contact piece hinged to the body and consisting of separate sections arranged end to end, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

10. A commutator brush comprising a supporting body, a contact piece hinged to the body and consisting of separate sections arranged end to end and provided with longitudinal apertures aligned with each other, and a spring arranged in said apertures and having its opposite ends secured to the sections, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

11. A commutator brush comprising a supporting body, and a hinged contact piece supported by the body and movable on axes arranged at substantially right angles with each other, substantially as and for the `purpose described.

12. A commutator brush comprising a supporting body consisting of separate sections one of which is supported by the otherandis movable independent thereof, and a contact piece hinged to the movable section, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

13. A commutator brush comprisinga supporting body consisting of separate sections one of which is supported by the other and is provided with a partially revoluble arm arranged at substantially right angles with the lengthwise plane of the body, and a contact piece provided with a bearing face for inaking contact with the commutator arranged substantially parallel with said arm and hinged thereto by a joint interposed between parallel planes extending through the projecting edges of the bearing face and substantially perpendicular to a plane projected through said edges, said hinge-joint being arranged substantially parallel with the projecting edges of the bearing face, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

14. A commutator brush comprisingasupporting body consisting of separate sections one of which is supported by the other and is movable independent thereof, a spring for holding the movable section in its normal po- 15. A commutator brush comprising a supporting' body consisting of separate sections one of which is supported by the other and is movable independent thereof, a spiral spring for holding the movable section in its normal position, a spring bar secured to one side of the spiral spring, and a contact piece hinged to the movable section, substantially as' and for the purpose described.

16. A coinmutator brush comprising a supporting body consisting of separate sections one of which is supported by the other and is provided with a partially revoluble arm arranged at substantially right angles with the lengthwise plane of the body, a spiral spring for holding the movable section in its normal position, a spring bar secured to the outer side of the spiral spring, and a contact piece provided with a bearing face for making contact with the commutator arranged substantially parallel withl said. arm and hinged thereto by a joint interposed between parallel planes extending through the projecting edges of the bearing face and substantially perpendicular to a plane projected through said edges, said hinge-joint being arranged substantially parallel with the projecting edges of the bearing face, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

17. A commutator brush comprising asupporting body, and a contact piece hinged to the body and having an outer portion of its face formed of greater resistance than the next adjacent portion thereof, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name, in the presence of two attesting witnesses, at Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga, in the State of New York, this 17th day of January, 1895.

HERMAN B. COLLINS.

Witnesses:

E. A. WEISBURG, K. H. THEoBALD. 

